Episode 2 of "Outlander: Blood of My Blood" unfolds in Belgium, 1917, amidst the tragic battlefields of World War I. Amidst the chaos, Henry harbors a desperate desire to rescue his comrade, William, despite the captain's stern refusal. Defying orders, he meticulously times his daring rescue maneuvers, leaving the captain both moved by his bravery and cautioning him against such recklessness.
Interspersed between the combat scenes, Henry pens poignant letters to an unknown recipient, confessing that death holds a kinder embrace than the relentless cruelties of war. Meanwhile, in London, Julia, a budding biochemist with a photographic memory, temporarily halts her academic pursuits to work at the War Office. Passionate about her studies and engaged in suffragette protests, she yearns for a degree. Her current duty involves censoring soldiers' letters, where she stumbles upon Henry's poignant missive addressed to The London Times. Captivated, she pens a heartfelt reply imbued with hope and the serenity of nature. This unexpected correspondence blossoms into a tender romance, prompting Henry to seek leave to meet her. As war's grip tightens, he risks two weeks of AWOL status, leaving Julia consumed by worry.
Miraculously, he arrives in London, and their reunion is a tapestry of overwhelming relief and joy. Their whirlwind romance culminates in marriage and cohabitation, sealed with a ring adorned with a gemstone. However, Henry grapples with PTSD, with Julia standing steadfastly by his side through every panic-stricken moment.
The narrative then abruptly shifts to the present—or rather, to a past anew, as Julia inadvertently traverses time to the 18th century. She etches "SWAK" on a stone, a token of hope should Henry follow her footsteps, before venturing out for assistance. Tragically, she falls prey to the Connors, who sell her to Lovat to settle debts. Desperate pleas fall on deaf ears, and though Brian attempts to intervene, Lovat remains unyielding.
Henry, too, is swept into the temporal currents and discovers Julia's note. His journey leads him to Inverness, where he finds refuge in an inn, only to be baffled by notices dated 1714. A chance encounter with Malcolm, who buys him an ale, draws Henry into a perilous altercation with the Campbells when he inadvertently foils a bad deal. The furious Campbells nearly claim his life, but Malcolm intervenes at the eleventh hour.
Elsewhere, Julia tries to reason with Mistress Porter, stunned to realize she too is a prisoner of 1714. Porter, touched by her plight, warns her of Lovat's unsavory advances, leaving Julia's situation more precarious than ever.
Henry's fortunes show no signs of improvement as he is ushered into the Grant manor to clarify his intentions, revealing his profession as a lawyer. Isaac Grant, the lord of the manor, is taken aback when Henry reveals that his counselor had been corrupted by bribes from the Campbells. A young Arch Bug substantiates Henry's claims, prompting Grant to appoint him as his new advisor and entrust him with access to his finances to search for Julia. Amidst this turn of events, Henry emerges as the Sassenech of the narrative, with Bug mockingly taunting him.
Julia's plight remains unchanged as she toils away at Leathers Castle. One fateful day, she sneaks a map of Inverness. Lovat catches her red-handed in his study and attempts to assault her. Swiftly devising an excuse, she dashes away.
Though she manages to escape, Brian spots her in her haste. He feels compassion but tries to deter her, cautioning her about the dire consequences. Ignoring his warnings, she flees only to be apprehended by the brutal Balloch. Lovat seeks to punish her, but Brian steps in to take the blame, enduring twenty lashes as a result, leaving Julia in astonishment.
A month has passed since the Beauchamps' temporal journey and the MacKenzie Gathering. Ned approaches Henry with a proposal of betrothal between Ellen and Malcolm. However, Henry remains uninterested, as Isaac has demanded Dougal's head. Ned offers to search for Julia, and Henry reluctantly agrees.
As Outlander: Blood of My Blood Episode 2 concludes, Julia pens a letter to Henry, pondering if she is already dead. Her sole beacon of hope is that he is with Claire, and she will find her way back to them. In response, Henry writes to her, expressing how she and Claire are his lifeline. He vows to track her down. Both their letters conclude with the heartfelt abbreviation SWAK – sealed with a kiss.
